Did he dare to believe that the look in Rain’s eyes was love? Perhaps, much like himself, those feelings had never truly died.
By the time evening rolled around, Rain and Luke had told each other all about the past four years of each other’s lives. Luke described his last world tour, detailing all the funny incidents that had taken place while he was on the road and the hard work he’d committed himself to in order to fulfill the terms of his contract. In turn, Rain caught him up to speed on things in Treasure Harbor and her own dissatisfaction with her career path. She confided in him that she still harbored dreams of being in the music industry. Although Luke encouraged her to continue to seek out opportunities while she was in Nashville, he wasn’t certain she would follow through. He couldn’t quite put his finger on her hesitation. He had to wonder if she believed in her talent.
Before they knew it, evening had rolled around. It was amazing how quickly time had passed while they were enjoying each other’s company. Once they’d broken through a barrier, it felt as if no time had passed by since they’d been a couple. Wanting to spend as much time with Rain as he possibly could, Luke invited Rain to dinner. Rather than cook for her, this time Luke planned to take her out to his favorite Italian restaurant. Maggiano’s Little Italy. It was located in the West End are of Nashville. Since Maggiano’s was one of Luke’s favorite restaurants, Rain insisted on him picking out her meal for her. After careful deliberation, Luke ordered Veal Parmesan for Rain and Chicken Piccata for himself. For dessert, they shared a slice of cheesecake with strawberries and cream.
Wanting to prolong the evening, Luke suggested taking a stroll in the area. Some of the shops were still open and the street was brightly lit with street lamps. Luke got a kick out of the way Rain oohed and aahed over the things she saw through the display windows. When they walked past a shop called the French Shoppe, she let out a gasp at the jewelry on display.
“Do you want to go inside?” Luke asked.
She nodded. “I just want to see that necklace up close and personal. It’s stunning.”
Luke agreed. The necklace was turquoise and silver. He had a hunch it was Native American jewelry. It was a distinct and one of a kind piece. It would be perfect for Rain. Much like the piece, Rain was an original.
Once they were inside the shop, Rain tried the necklace on and admired herself in the mirror. Luke let out a low whistle. Rain turned around and chuckled. She waved him away with her hand.
“That necklace belongs around your neck,” he said, admiring her exotic beauty.
Rain smiled. “It’s so stunning it would look good on anyone.” She gently removed the necklace and placed it back on the display.
“You’re not getting it?” he asked, feeling curious about her decision to put the necklace back.
“It’s a bit on the pricey side,” she admitted, her tone full of chagrin. “I’m on a budget since we still have a little more than nine weeks to go on this trip. I don’t want to be broke on the last leg of it.”
“I understand,” he murmured. “Why don’t you look around a bit more. There’s some interesting pieces throughout the store.”
“Don’t mind if I do,” Rain said as she proceeded to walk around the store. She seemed to be on cloud nine as she viewed the jewelry, clothes and art pieces. Luke made sure Rain was on the other side of the shop before he picked up the turquoise and silver necklace, then brought it up to the check-out counter. He told the cashier it was a surprise for his friend who was currently in the shop with him. With a conspiratorial wink, the cashier discreetly charged his credit card, then placed the necklace in a velvet pouch. Within a few minutes the transaction was completed. And Rain had no idea he’d purchased the necklace for her.
As soon as they went outside, Luke handed over the small velvet pouch.
“Luke!” Rain cried out. “I can’t believe you bought the necklace for me.”
Her enthusiasm made him grin. “It belongs to you. I can’t imagine anyone else it would suit better than you.”
She bowed her head. “It’s so expensive. I don’t want you to think I was hinting or that I expected such a generous gift.”
“Are you kidding me? I would never think those things in a million years.” He looked at her beseechingly. “Please accept it, Rain. I’ve missed a lot of your birthdays over the past few years. Let me do this for you.”
“Oh, Luke. It’s beautiful. I’ll cherish it always. When I wear it I’ll always remember Nashville…and you.” Her voice was husky with emotion. For a moment, Luke feared she was on the verge of tears.
There was something in her words that scared him to death. She was talking about him as if he’d soon be nothing more than a memory. It made him feel helpless. What he wanted more than anything in this world was to have Rain in his life.
Luke drove Rain back to the Nashville Grand hotel. Every inch of the way he
“Thank you for today. You didn’t have to give me your time. I know you came to Nashville to be with your friends and not to rehash the past with me.” He reached out and squeezed her hand. “I appreciate it more than you’ll ever know.”
“I appreciate your total honesty, Luke. I know it couldn’t have been easy for you to admit all your failings. And the truth is, it was just as healing for me as it was for you,” she acknowledged, squeezing his hand in return.
“I want to see you again, Rain, but I don’t want to take you away from the girls.”
“I want to spend more time with you too, Luke,” she said in a shy voice. “I don’t think my friends will mind. We still have a weeks and weeks of this road trip ahead of us.”
“Can I call you tomorrow?” he asked.
“I’d love that,” she said with a smile. “Give me your cell and I’ll add my phone number.”
Luke reached into his pocket for his cell phone. He tapped in his password, then handed the phone to Rain. Within seconds she was handing the phone back to him. When their fingers brushed against each other, Luke felt an electric pulse. Rain felt it too. He could tell by the way her eyes widened and her lips slightly parted.
Luke moved closer toward Rain. He held her face between his hands. For a moment, he started intensely into Rain’s eyes. Without second guessing himself, Luke dipped his head down and placed his lips over Rain’s. A light floral scent filled his nostrils. Rain’s lips were welcoming and sweet. He kissed her tenderly, with a conviction he prayed she felt deep in her soul. Kissing Rain felt like coming home to a place he never wanted to leave. When the kiss ended, Luke could hear his heart thundering in his ears.
Rain let out a sigh. Luke brushed his fingers down the side of her face.
“I’ve had dreams just like this where we’re kissing. Then I wake up to discover it wasn’t real. It was all just a dream.”
“Oh, Luke,” Rain said in a soft voice. “If it means anything, I’ve thought of you a lot over the years. I’ve spent a lot of time pondering over might have been.”
“Me too,” he whispered. “If only I hadn’t been such a fool.”
Rain reached out and placed her finger against his lips. “Don’t say that. The people we are today are the people we were meant to be. Your journey has given you strength and purpose. You know what it’s like to fall from grace. That makes you human.”
“Well, in case you didn’t know, this human is crazy about you, Rain Santos. Always have been. Always will be.”
Rain moved toward him and gifted him with a tender kiss. He let out a sigh against her lips. If he could only make this moment last forever he would do so in a heartbeat.
***
Rain’s time in Nashville passed all too quickly. Although she had managed to spend a lot of time with her girlfriends exploring the wonders of the city, Rain also made time for Luke. She hadn’t admitted it to a single soul, but she was falling in love with him all over again. The truth was, she wasn’t sure she’d ever fallen out of love with him. The love she felt for Luke had been nestled safely in her heart all these years
. And now, it was coming back to life with a vengeance.
I need Your help, Lord so I can navigate my way through this situation. I love Luke. I always have. But I’m not sure if we have a future together. I don’t dare to hope for a happy ending when it just might be out of my reach.
Today has been a fun day with the girls. They had headed over to the Botanical Gardens and had a picnic lunch on the grounds. Her friends had teased her a bit about Luke. Last night she and Luke had sung one of their old songs at his house. It had felt surreal, as if they were taking a walk back in time. It had felt gratifying to connect so deeply with someone while working on her craft. Luke’s voice had improved over the years—it was now stronger, richer and more soulful.
“So, do you and my cousin have plans for this evening?” Jessica asked. “Inquiring minds want to know.”
Four pairs of eyes were trained on her. It was so quiet, Rain could have heard a pin drop.
Rain shrugged. “We’re having a quiet dinner at his place.” She let out a sigh. “I can’t believe we just reconnected and now it’s almost time for us to part.”
Bridget raised a hand to her forehead. “Parting is such sweet sorrow.”
All the ladies laughed at her dramatic flair.
“It’s going to be hard,” Rain confessed. She bit her lip. “It’s hard to focus on the moment when in a few days we’ll be heading to Arkansas.”
Lark put her arm around her and said, “We’re here for you. And this road trip is going to keep chugging along. We’re going to have a blast.”
“And don’t forget to enjoy the rest of your time together. Make the most of it, Rain,” Cassidy said in an encouraging voice. “Don’t focus so much on what’s coming down the road.”
“I will,” she said with a fierce nod. It was ridiculous to feel mournful about leaving Luke behind in Nashville. She should be thanking God for leading her to Nashville in the first place. She and Luke had managed to bridge the gap between them. She felt lighter and freer now that she wasn’t harboring anger against Luke. With God’s grace, she had been able to move toward forgiveness.
Later that evening, Luke picked her up at six o’clock and took her over to his house. This time around he allowed her to help make the dinner for them. They made salmon and stir fried vegetables. As they sat down to eat, Luke told Rain all about his studio session earlier that day. Rain ate up every single detail. She found it fascinating to hear about how they laid the tracks down and the artistic process.
“It sounds great,” Rain said in a gushing voice. “A dream come true.”
“It’s work. I love it, but it’s work. I feel incredibly blessed,” Luke said.
“When does your new music launch?” Rain asked. “I’d love to hear some of it.”
Luke winked at her. “That can be arranged. Why don’t I get my guitar and let you hear a few songs? I’d love for us to sing together, like old times.”
Rain grinned and nodded. There was nothing she would like better than to sing with Luke. She couldn’t even put into words how much she’d missed singing with him. For so long it had felt as if a piece of her was missing. They settled into his cozy den and alternated between her listening to Luke’s new music and the two of them singing together.
Luke had been acting a bit giddy all evening. He kept looking at her like the cat who had swallowed the cream.
“Your voice is even better now,” Luke told her, his voice full of praise. “You’ve been honing your craft.”
“Thanks,” she said, feeling buoyed by his encouragement. “I sing at a lot of venues in Treasure Harbor. It’s not Nashville by any means, but it gets me out there. I still sing in the Treasure Harbor Church choir. That brings me the most joy.”
“I belong to a great church here in Nashville,” Luke said. “I sing with the choir as much as I can.”
Rain smiled. The Treasure Harbor choir had been the main reason she and Luke had connected as singers. It was nice to be able to look back fondly on those memories.
“I have a surprise for you,” he announced. He had a huge grin on his face.
“I’ve arranged for one of the executives from my label to hear you sing at the Bluebird. It’s a prestigious event that only comes around once in a blue moon. I pulled a few strings. You’ve got a spot.”
Rain’s heart began to thunder inside her chest. “What? No, Luke. I never asked you to do that! I’m not ready for something like that.”
His eyes widened. “Wait! Are you upset?”
“Yes! No! I don’t know,” she confessed. She felt horrible for not rejoicing at Luke’s announcement, but fear was holding her back from celebrating. She didn’t want to get her hopes up, only to have them dashed. She’d spent years reeling from the massive rejection from the music executives who had ended her singing partnership with Luke and rejected her in the process.
“Rain, you’ve already performed at the Bluebird and you knocked it out of the park.”
“But it wasn’t in front of label executives.”
Luke chuckled. “Label executives are people just like us, Rain. And they want to find talent like you. I know fear is messing with your head right now, but this is a huge opportunity to change your life and pursue your singing dreams.”
She frowned. All her fears and insecurities were rising to the surface. Four years ago, label executives had ripped her heart out and crushed her dream. When they had focused on Luke and offered him a contract while bypassing her, it had hurt like nothing she’d ever experienced. It had led to feelings of low self-esteem and self-worth.
She wouldn’t be able to bear it if it happened all over again.
She ran a shaking hand through her hair. Rain wrapped her arms around her middle. “I promised myself I’d never put myself in this situation again. It devastated me last time.”
Luke placed both hands on either side of her waist, then pulled her closer toward him. He met her gaze. His eyes radiated an intensity she couldn’t ignore. “Rain, I’m not going to let that happen to you. I should have done a better job last time of protecting you from the fallout. I was so blown away by the offer from the music label. My head was spinning. I should have seen how hurtful it was for you. Every time I asked you if it bothered you, your reaction as the same. You told me it was an amazing opportunity. A blessing.”
“I was happy for you, Luke. Truly, I was. But I also felt invisible and useless. I kept wondering what was wrong with me? Why hadn’t they wanted to sign me too? And it ended our singing partnership. I missed it like crazy.”
Luke let out a groan. He leaned down and placed a kiss on her lips.
“There’s not a single thing wrong with you, baby. I wish I’d convinced you of that at the time. Being a part of the music business has shown me that the people who control the industry don’t always get it right.” He brushed kisses against her temple, on after the other. “They didn’t get it right with you. I know that deep in my soul. And for what it’s worth, I tried to convey that to them at the time. I met up against a brick wall. Sometimes people don’t like to admit they made a mistake.”
Rain shrugged. “It took me a long time to get past the rejection. To be honest, it still stings a bit. But I’ve learned that everything happens in its own time. I wanted it so badly back then. I still want it, but I know it won’t determine my future or define who I am as a person. I won’t ever let it rule my life or determine my self-worth.”
Luke nodded. “You’ve got your head on straight. And it’s best to view this as an opening and an opportunity to showcase your talent. Even if they don’t chase you down and offer you a contract, it’s not the end of things. Nashville is a big city with lots of opportunities. Speaking of which, I’ve always dreamed of us doing a duet on an album. That hasn’t changed one bit. I’d like for us to write some music together and lay down some tracks.”
“Oh, Luke. That’s incredible. Are you sure? I know we’re at two different places in our journey. You’re a big star now. I’m a nobody.”
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br /> He placed his finger over her lips. “I don’t ever want to hear you say you’re a nobody ever again. You’re the very opposite. You’re everything to me.”
“I just meant in the industry, Luke. You took off like a rocket in the world of country music. You’ve done incredibly well for yourself.”
He grimaced. “I went off the rails, but I’m back now. God has been so good to me. He never left my side. And with His grace, the door was never truly closed on me in the music industry. People have been kind…and forgiving.”
“I know a little bit about forgiveness. It’s just as much a gift for the person who forgives as the one who is being forgiven. It’s a very freeing feeling.”
“You deserve to be as free as a bird.”
“I appreciate you’re sharing your platform with me. An aspiring singer couldn’t ask for more.” She rubbed her hands together with excitement. “I can’t wait to come back to Nashville after the road trip ends and start working on this project with you.”
“I can’t wait.” He smoothed back strands of hair that had fallen over her eyes. “What strikes me is that our journey started together. That’s never left me. We were partners, both in music and in life. I can’t help but think we should have been on that journey together all this time. Singing with you is a soulful experience, Rain. I never feel like that when I’m singing solo. Not ever.”
“I’ve always loved singing with you too. I wholeheartedly accept your sweet offer. But I also want to get noticed on my own merits. I want someone to think I’m the next best thing in music.”
“Well, you’ve got your number one fan standing right in front of you. I believe in you, baby. There’s no time like the present to test the waters.”
Rain grinned. Luke was right. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. “You’re right. I’m going to sing my little heart out. And pray for the best.” She took a deep breath. “I’m a stronger person now than I was back then. And more realistic. If it doesn’t happen for me, I’m going to be fine.”
“That’s the spirit, Rain. Either way, you’re still a singer. You still have a lot to contribute to the world of music. I want to help you any way I can.”
Sing Me Home: Road to Love Page 5